Sheriff warns heroin pusher she faces prison sentence

A drug pusher caught with £4,200-worth of heroin has been warned she could be facing a custodial sentence.

Mhari-Claire Stewart, 20, of the town’s King Harald Street, admitted supplying the class A drug when she appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

The first offender was caught at the Holmsgarth ferry terminal with over 30 grammes of diamorphine on 22nd September last year.

The court heard Stewart had co-operated fully with defence agent Tommy Allan since the offence had come to light. He moved she be released on bail while background reports are compiled by social workers.

However Sheriff Graeme Napier warned her it was “almost inevitable” she would be going to prison for the offence.

“I have to get a report on you because this is your first offence. But it is a very serious offence and it is almost inevitable you will be sent to prison.

“But because you’ve got no previous convictions I’ve got to get a report on you, which will look at other alternatives.”

Deferring sentence until 22nd February, he allowed Stewart her liberty in the meantime, but he warned her: “It would be in your interests to co-operate with social workers.”